Jeremiah pulled on his cufflinks, wishing the ceremony was over already. Shannon had chosen the day he’d “rescued” her from a flat tire in the parking lot of Roasted as their wedding day. She’d said, “That was the day my life changed, and I want to celebrate it every year, forever.”
Jeremiah would’ve been married on any day, anywhere, at any time she’d specified. Waiting for the past eight months had been the ultimate trial in patience, but the day was finally here.
His dad had insisted that Jeremiah wear his cufflinks, and they had belonged to his grandfather, and his great-grandfather too. So Jeremiah adjusted them again, because they were heavy.
He’d been dressed and ready for the ceremony for about a half an hour, and his dad had been in and out of the room a couple of times. He’d snuck in Suzie and Jeremiah’s mother, and they’d both exclaimed over his handsomeness and adjusted his bowtie.
He couldn’t wear the same tuxedo he’d worn to the gala last year, so he’d opted for an expensive suit, a vest, and a bowtie. Shannon had said she didn’t care if he wore a tux, and she’d absolutely refused to tell him anything about her dress. And showing him? She’d laughed at him when he’d asked, claiming between all the giggles that it was bad luck for the groom to see a bride’s dress before the wedding.
Jeremiah swallowed, wishing he had some family or friends in the room with him. But he had his vows memorized, and his family wanted to have a front-row seat for the nuptials. He moved over to the window and looked out, the beach spreading out below him in both directions.
The wedding had been set up to his left, where dozens of white chairs waited underneath a couple of tents, though the spring sunshine wasn’t the blazing inferno it would be in the summer.
The minutes passed, and it seemed like every chair had been taken. People were still coming, and they seemed to find places to sit. Jeremiah bounced on the balls of his feet, jerking toward the door when it opened.
“Oh, Riley, hi,” he said, the adrenaline flowing freely through him. He gave a light laugh, trying to release some of his anxiety. “Is it time?”
She lifted her hand, which held a leash. Hercules looked up at Jeremiah, a smile on his canine face. “They’re ready for you two. Shannon’s just finishing up with the flowers.” Her face blanked and she almost dropped the leash. “I mean—”
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I won’t tell her you told me about the flowers.” He crossed the room and took the leash. “Come on, Herc. We don’t want to be late for our own wedding.”
“I didn’t tell you anything about the flowers.” Riley looked at him with worry in his eyes.
Jeremiah laughed, and said, “I’m not going to mention it to her.” He paused and studied Riley. “You guys work too hard and stress too much over this stuff.”
“A little,” Riley said. “And I’m just the receptionist.”
“Shannon’s worked for eight months on this wedding,” Jeremiah said. “How’s it going? Is everything right?”
“Everything’s gone off without a hitch.” Riley smiled and nodded toward the stairs. “You better hurry. Shannon has this timed.”
Jeremiah was sure she did, and he nodded before he started for the steps. He gave Hercules the time the old dog needed to get down the stairs and across the squishy sand. Her mother sat in the first row with his parents, and he’d met Shannon’s parents dozens of times over the months, even spending Christmas Day with them. Her father was inside, waiting to escort Shannon down the aisle.
Her parents were nice people, and they’d lived in Getaway Bay as long as his family had. Her sisters were nothing short of a riot, and Jeremiah really enjoyed hanging out with them while Shannon baked something delicious or while they all sat on the beach.
The sand beneath his bare feet burned a little now, and he sped his steps so he could get under the tent to the shade. He walked down the aisle, Hercules at his side and everyone’s eyes on him.
He didn’t mind it so much, but he really wanted Shannon to come out so everyone would focus on her. She was the real star of today, and he had to admit he couldn’t wait to see her in her wedding dress, stepping toward him with a gorgeous smile on her face.
Once he was positioned at the altar, he glanced back toward the reception hall where their dressing rooms were located. He saw Riley’s redhead swivel as she hurried back inside. Jeremiah shifted his feet, smiling and nodding at the guests.
Finally, the pretty classical music filling the air quieted. All the guests stood up and faced the aisle, and Jeremiah couldn’t see past all of them to the doorway where he’d just seen Riley. She was right—Shannon had planned every detail, and as a gasp went up in the crowd, he looked straight down the aisle to find his fiancée standing there in her wedding gown.
It had wide, lacy straps that went over her shoulders, hugged every curve in her torso before it reached her knees and flared a little bit. The dress was made of pearly fabric that shone in the sunlight, and flowers crowned her head as if she was a princess.
Which, of course, she was.
Jeremiah couldn’t feel his fingers as she advanced toward him, and he only kept breathing because it was an involuntary reaction.
Her dark eyes sparkled like diamonds, and she tipped up onto her toes to kiss her father’s cheek before he passed her to Jeremiah. The warmth of her arm in his sent fireworks through his system, and his perfectly memorized vows flew out of his mind.
He smiled down at Shannon and pressed his lips to her temple. She turned toward the pastor and Jeremiah went with her. The minister welcomed everyone and gave a bit of counsel to Shannon and Jeremiah to never go to bed angry.
Jeremiah wasn’t sure he believed that, because sometimes it was better to sleep on something than keep talking when he was tired. Sometimes things were clearer in the morning. Talking when angry or frustrated didn’t usually end well, in his experience.
But the pastor moved on, and Jeremiah paid attention so he’d know when to talk when it was his turn. It didn’t take long, and then the pastor said, “And the bride and groom have written their own vows.”
Shannon turned back to Jeremiah, a clear indication that he was going first. He had her face memorized, and he opened his mouth to speak, glad his vows were on the tip of his tongue.
“Shannon, I used to time when I’d go into the coffee shop so I could see you. I did this for about a year before the perfect opportunity presented itself for me to ask you out. I’m so glad you got that flat tire, and that you said yes when I asked you to go out with me.”
He swallowed, not used to wearing his heart out on his sleeve for quite so many people to see and hear.
“I love you, and I can’t wait until we can share our lives together.”
Shannon’s eyes shone like glass, and she began her vows, saying that day she’d gotten a flat tire was the best day of her life too. She said, “I admire your patience and your determination and dedication to your family and practice. I love you and Hercules, and I can’t wait to be your wife.”
Jeremiah couldn’t wait either, and thankfully, the pastor finished the ceremony pretty quickly after that, proclaiming that Jeremiah could kiss his bride.
So he did, and kissing his wife was twice as wonderful as kissing his fiancée. “I love you,” he whispered against Shannon’s lips, and she giggled before repeating the sentiment and kissing him again.
END